Parallon's former name was All About Staffing or AAS, and they are fully owned by HCA. They changed their name this year to start staffing non HCA hospitals, but 99 percent of their business is HCA. Which are usually hospitals to avoid. Every agency that staffs HCA goes through Parallon. Paradoxically, often you will make more for a third party agency at an HCA hospital. Personally, if I ever had to take an assignment at an HCA hospital, I'd look hard for a third party agency. It is better to have an expert deal with HCA and act as your advocate. Parallon will never intervene in your behalf at an HCA hospital.

Parallon's former name was All About Staffing or AAS, and they are fully owned by HCA. They changed their name this year to start staffing non HCA hospitals, but 99 percent of their business is HCA. Which are usually hospitals to avoid. Every agency that staffs HCA goes through Parallon. Paradoxically, often you will make more for a third party agency at an HCA hospital. Personally, if I ever had to take an assignment at an HCA hospital, I'd look hard for a third party agency. It is better to have an expert deal with HCA and act as your advocate. Parallon will never intervene in your behalf at an HCA hospital.

Hospital Corporation of America is the largest private operator of health care facilities in the world. They are notorious for being unpleasant to work at, perhaps in part because they are for profit. Based in Nashville, they operate in like 20 states and you can barely travel in Florida without working at one. Every traveler should know them.

Interesting politics and back story. Back in 2000, they were ultimately dinged around 1.7 billion dollars for Medicare fraud. It was originally a Frist family business, and you may remember Bill Frist, a senator and physician from Tennessee, was Republican Majority Leader from 2003 to 2007 and played with a run for the presidency for 2008. He and several other large stockholders of HCA were investigated for selling large amounts of stock just before it dropped due to the Medicare new hitting. Rick Scott, now governor of Florida was CEO of HCA when the scandal hit and was fired.

Now for something really interesting that I just found out last week: Bain Capital owns 20 percent of HCA! That also means Mitt Romney also owns some unspecified amount through his unspecified ownership equity of Bain Capital. Which also means many travelers are effectively employees of Mitt Romney! Wonder why he doesn't boast of it?

I am at the Regional Medical Center of Acadiana in Lafayette. The hospital is great but my recruiter at Parallon is a nightmare. I just found out today that they have been taxing my housing stipend and I was told that they will not give me back the money. They said they never received the residence form, that I faxed with all my paperwork that they did receive. I am currently trying to get another agency to take over my contract. If that doesn't work, then I will be giving a 2 weeks notice and finding something else. My contract says I can end the assignment if I give a 2 week notice.

I am at the Regional Medical Center of Acadiana in Lafayette. The hospital is great but my recruiter at Parallon is a nightmare. I just found out today that they have been taxing my housing stipend and I was told that they will not give me back the money. They said they never received the residence form, that I faxed with all my paperwork that they did receive. I am currently trying to get another agency to take over my contract. If that doesn't work, then I will be giving a 2 weeks notice and finding something else. My contract says I can end the assignment if I give a 2 week notice.

You can give 2 weeks notice, but read your contract carefully. I think you will find that you are still liable for penalties if you don't complete your contract.

Forget about another agency. You know that HCA owns the hospital you are working for? They also own Parallon. All other agencies subcontract through Parallon. You are stuck.